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Fantastical Truth

Fantastical Truth

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Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories’ meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.Copyright © Lorehaven, 2023. All rights reserved. Arte Cristianismo Espiritualidad Historia y Crítica Literaria Ministerio y Evangelismo
Episodios
  • 306. Why Do Fiction Fans Fight Over ‘Optimism’ vs. ‘Realism’?

    306. Why Do Fiction Fans Fight Over ‘Optimism’ vs. ‘Realism’?
    Mar 31 2026

    This month’s Project Hail Mary film is being praised as a fresh, thrilling sci-fi take that is wholesome and sincere. As expected, we’re seeing more fantastical fans cry out for stories that celebrate the human spirit. Why do we love these stories? And how do different fan trends, even across whole generations, keep swerving between positive portrayals and other stories that may be called “cynical”?

    Episode sponsors
    1. The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson
    2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo
    3. The Hole-Man by Dan Daetz
    4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett
    Mission update
    • New at Lorehaven: new boosted Library search
    • Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild
    1. Optimistic stories celebrate common grace
    • Stephen read the book back soon after its May 4, 2021, release.
    • Don’t miss the audiobook read by narrator Ray “Darkseid” Porter.
    • Right from the title, Project Hail Mary honors human will and spirit.
    • Weir publicly eschewed inserting “the message” (leftist politics).
    • It’s a deeply humanist story (and not necessarily in a bad way).
    • Brett McCracken from TGC wrote that the film honors biblical virtues and “celebrates friendship, sacrifice, and self-giving love.”
    • Some vote blue. Some red. But everyone loves Grace and Rocky.
    2. Cynical stories show sin—and to a fault
    • In response, many fans are freshly condemning cynical stories.
    • These make a show of hopelessness, grimdark, nihilism, despair.
    • But there are fewer of these obvious cynical stories in pop culture.
    • Their problem isn’t “show sin at all.” Their problem is lack of virtue.
    • Do note that some popular “optimistic” stories are just posers.
    • They’re just as cynical about virtue, yet may offer false “syncerity.”
    • One can almost see the memos. They’re trying to have/eat cake.
    3. Many great stories rightly reflect both
    • “Realistic” stories aren’t always cynical, and “colorful” stories aren’t always optimistic; this is defined more by ideas than appearance.
    • Earnest and optimistic stories can be noblebright and nobledark.
    • In fact, Project Hail Mary (book and film) mixes both of these.
    • Even God gets a friendly shoutout—a hint at the morality’s origin.
    • Spoiler: Ryland is no hero. He’s effectively assaulted. That’s dark.
    • But desperate times call for Grace. He becomes a hero. That’s light.
    • These stories defeat both forced “syncerity” and cynical tales.
    Com station Top question for listeners
    • What do you love about Project Hail Mary and optimistic stories?
    Next on Fantastical Truth

    Uh-oh. That big new trailer from that big studio just hit for that big fantasy franchise remake/reboot/sequel. It’s too big to fail! And then fail it does. They got the cast way wrong. They hired a bad writer. And they’re going to ruin everything we loved about the original. What’s worse? These big studios don’t seem to care. Do they? Or do some big studios have big secret reasons for “improving” fantasy franchises?
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    55 m
  • 305. How Do Great Stories Help Us Prepare for War-Time?

    305. How Do Great Stories Help Us Prepare for War-Time?
    Mar 24 2026
    “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” That’s what the Lord Jesus promised His disciples. How does His word, with support from fantastical fiction, help us prepare for armed conflicts across our real world? Episode sponsors The Star-Blessed by Angie DickinsonRealm Makers 2026 Conference & ExpoThe Hole-Man by Dan DaetzAbove the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett Mission update New at Lorehaven: join the Lorehaven AuthorshipSubscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Quotes and notes The main relevant fact admitted by all parties is that war is very disagreeable. The main contention urged as fact by Pacifists would be that wars always do more harm than good. How is one to find out whether this is true? It belongs to a class of historical generalisations which involve a comparison between the actual consequences of some actual event and a consequence which might have followed if that event had not occurred. “Wars do no good” involves the proposition that if the Greeks had yielded to Xerxes and the Romans to Hannibal, the course of history ever since would have been perhaps better, but certainly no worse than it actually has been; that a Mediterranean world in which Carthaginian power succeeded Persian would have been at least as good and happy and as fruitful for all posterity as the actual Mediterranean world in which Roman power succeeded Greek. My point is not that such an opinion seems to me overwhelmingly improbable. My point is that both opinions are merely speculative; there is no conceivable way of convincing a man of either. C. S. Lewis, “Why Am I Not A Pacifist” 1. Great stories show us that war is hell. Answer to Stephen’s earlier question: all great stories need conflict.Without any conflict, no fights, battles, war, sin, we’d have no story.(Side thought: without the Fall, fiction as we know it couldn’t exist.)Yes, we do love stories that are so focused on war that the word is right in the title: Star Wars, World of Warcraft, Warhammer 40,000.But it’s vital for stories to show conflict/war as somewhat realistic.People die and do not return. Wounds hurt. War-“glory” is fleeting.And of course, folks start or fight in wars for very corrupt reasons. 2. Stories also show wars can be necessary. God Himself, as Author of the Story, allowed/planned for conflict.The very existence of fiction reminds us conflict serves a purpose.Folks uncomfortable with war often find ways to like these stories.This might indicate that even they know conflict has some purpose.Few critics would reasonably dispute (by faithful in-universe terms) the justifiable causes of the Federation, Fremen, or Men of Gondor.Deep Christian traditions of “just war theory” often supports them.Villains have many motives, but often can be stopped only by force. 3. Best of all, stories help us long for peace. Having shown war as hell, but also necessary, stories can do more.The best ones remind us that all conflict and war is temporary.At our best, we as fans aren’t mercenaries who live for the fight.We do want that redemptive, happy ending for heroes, already!… At least, until the next war-story reminding us that it’s not yet.Most stories hold this happy end always out of reach, off the page.Others, chief among these the biblical Story, directly promise this. Com station Top question for listeners What are your favorite war-stories and why? Fans like Luke liked exploring pros/cons of adaptation: Our kids usually prefer books to their screen adaptations, but were very disappointed by the Mary Poppins books. The Disney adaptation took a lot of liberties, but it also made Poppins more likeable and wisely left out pagan elements of the story. Next on Fantastical Truth This month’s Project Hail Mary film is being praised as a fresh, thrilling sci-fi take that is wholesome and sincere. As expected, we’re seeing more fantastical fans cry out for stories that celebrate the human spirit. Why do we love these stories? And how do different fan trends, even across whole generations, keep swerving between positive portrayals and other stories that may be called “realistic” or else “cynical”?
    Más Menos
    1 h y 1 m
  • 304. When Was the Film Better Than the Book?

    304. When Was the Film Better Than the Book?
    Mar 17 2026

    Adaptations. Sometimes we act like we don’t like them. But sometimes we do. And sometimes each new version of a story—book to film or TV show—changes the original but adds something new and amazing. Today we explore the pros and cons of adaptations.

    Episode sponsors
    1. Firebreak by Kathy Tyers
    2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo
    3. The Hole-Man by Dan Daetz
    4. The Lorehaven Authorship
    Mission update
    • New at Lorehaven: review of The Star-Blessed
    • Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild
    1. When the film was better than the book(?)
    • Zack believes The Lord of the Rings films are better than the books.
    • He also finds The Hunger Games films better than the books.
    • Both Dune films are more accessible than the novels, at least so far.
    2. When film versions make changes yet win
    • One Piece condenses/adapts a lot from the original, yet is beloved.
    • The Three Body Problem series wonderfully adapts the book.
    • Next week’s Project Hail Mary is being hailed as a faithful version.
    3. When remade versions beat earlier versions
    • Avatar: The Last Airbender has flaws yet beats the 2010 film.
    • 12 Monkeys the show is far better than 12 Monkeys the movie.
    • Many of the DC and Marvel new versions beat earlier adaptations.
    Com station

    Top question for listeners

    • Which of your favorite film versions beat or match original books?
    Next on Fantastical Truth

    “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” That’s what the Lord Jesus promised His disciples. How does His word, with support from fantastical fiction, help us prepare for armed conflicts across our real world?
    Más Menos
    50 m
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After a solo outing by E. Steven Burnett, it was nice to hear the return of Zack Russell. I listened to a lot of talk radio in the last century because that was the career I went to college for.

I always enjoyed a show more when two or more people are interacting, even when it's only the host and the engineer.

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